How Organizations Develop Activists

For all the scholarship on social movements and civic associations, surprisingly little research has focused on the issue of organizational effectiveness. Han's book should go a long way toward filling this gap. Using a mix of comparative case analysis and field experiments, the author offers an empirically rich, analytically compelling account of why some associations succeed in mobilizing effective collective action, while so many others fail- often spectacularly - to do so. This book deserves the widest possible audience in political science, sociology and, most importantly, among those who aspire to successful grass roots activism. * Doug McAdam, author of Freedom Summer *
As organizers, we know that winning real change begins with real people, but it's not always easy to know what strategies are most effective for engaging people in ways that build power. How Organizations Develop Activists fills that gap, and is a must-read for any organizer or organization looking to build people power. * Ai-jen Poo, Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and co-director of Caring Across Generations *
Effective citizens' movements need to do much more than raise money and recruit the right individual adherents. Helping members become fully engaged and developing good volunteer leaders are the keys to having a real impact -and Hahrie Han's pathbreaking research shows exactly how these challenges can be met with well-designed organizational strategies. Her book is a must-read for all who care about making American democracy more vibrant and powerful. * Theda Skocpol, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, Harvard University, and Director, Scholars Strategy Network *